Vehicle lamp



April 29, 1924. 1,491,930l

H. E. SMITH VEHI CLE LAMP Filed April 30. 1923 2 Shee'cS-Sheet-l HARRY E. tS/v//T/Lf.

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April 29 1924. I 1,491,930

H. E. SMITH VEHICLE LAMP Filed April 50. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ttor/79A aaien tttfta..

HARRY SMITH, OIF PORTLAND, OREGON.

VEHICLE LAMP.,

Application led April 30, 1923.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARRY E. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vehicle Lamps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to lamps of the type commonly known as spotlights, used upon motor vehicles, and usually operated by electric power.

The object of my invention is to provide a lamp of this type with electrically operated mechanism in connection with same, whereby the lamp may be moved along any horizontal plane in which it is vertically secured, and the operation be made by an operator with electrical means. These objects, as well as other advantages, I attain by the construction, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof.

Fig. I is a side elevation with parts in section.

,Fig. yII is a rear elevation with parts broken away and parts in section on the line II-II in Fig. I.

Fig. III `is an enlarged sectional view on the line III-III in Fig. I.y Y

Fig. IV is a diagrammatic view of wiring, breaker and switches.

Fig. V is arplan view of the cover of the casing for switch mechanism with switch handles in view.

Fig. VI is a plan view of switch for operating motor to right or left. n

Fig. VII is an elevation of switch shown in Fig. VI.

Like characters refer to like parts in all views. A v

A casing 8 of convenient form and size 4is provided. A small electric motor 9 ,is

transversely andhorizontally positioned in the lower part of the casing, with the motor shaft 10 rotatablyl ,mountedy in bearings 11e-11 of the opposing motor casing walls. The motor is of a common type. The shaft 10 has a rigid toothed pinion 12 nearV one end'. Above the motor ris' a vertical hollow lamp shaft 13 which has a shoulder 14 resting upon. the outer surface of the casing, adjacentYto4 the openingl, through which it extends downwardly into they casing 8. A horizontal collar 16 of insulating sub Serial No. 535,615.

stance, is keyed rigidly to the shaft 13 by ra cotter pin 17. rlhe upper surface of the collar 16 engages the adjacent lower surface ofthe casing hub. Below the collar 16 is a spoked wheel 18, having a bevelled gear on its lower outer surface, and a hub 19. The wheel 18 is rotatably mounted in horizontal position on the shaft 13, its upper bearing being the collar 16 and its lower bearing an insulating collar 20, rigidly secured below it upon the shaft 13 by screws 21. Looped wires 22 are also secured upon the collar 20 by the same screws, and extend upwardly between the spokes of the wheel 18. The wires are arranged to engage the wheel spokes with sufficient tension to allow the wheel to remain in secured `position o-n the shaft 13 when said shaft is rotated by the motor, also to slip over the spokes and allow the shaft 13 to rotate without rotating the wheel, when the shaft is rotated from without by a power sucient to overcome the friction clutchl of the wires upon the wheel. Below the collar 20 the shaft has a rigid collar 23, positioned within a cupy 23 whichcontains balls 24 between its walls andthe collar 23, thus forming ball bearings for the shaft. kThe cup 23 rests upon a horizontal metal support 25, which is secured tothe casing wallsby screws 26. An insulating strip 27 extends about the cup 23 and rests upon kthe metal support 25. Below the latter another insulating strip 28 is positioned", and rigidly secured by screws 29. The shaft 13 extends downwardly through central openings in the cup 23 and strips 27 and 28 and beyond the same a suitablevdistance. Within the shaft 13 a vertical insulating sleeve 30 extends upwardly, having a shoulder or flange on its lower end, covering the lower end of the shaft for insulation. A metal tube 31 extends lthrough the sleeve 30. An insulatingsleeve 32, extends through the tube .31 and has a shoulder or flange onits lower end to insulate the contact wire. A contact pin 33 extends through the sleeve 32 Vand without the 'upper and lower ends of the tube 31. On the lower end of the pinaflanged collar 34.

'is held by the lpinghead 35. Upon the upper end of the shaft 13 is an integral, vertical, hollow `yoke 36. In its upper ends a lamp casing. 37 is pivotally mountedupon rigid, hollow'` ins 37', having openings leading into vthe'hollow yoke. 4Upon one of the pins 37 and within'the casing 37, a quadrant 33,

39 and the opposing wall of the casing, each" l of which it engages with its respective rends. A push pin 42 is secured at one end to the upper end of the bar 39 and thefree end thereoiy extends without the casing. 37. A reflector 43 is placedy within. the casing 37 and carries an electric terminal socket. 44 inits center, Ywithin which an incandescent lamp 46 is. placed. VThe casing,` reflector, socket and lamp areo a type and y,arrangement rofthe usualkind featuredin motor ,vehicle searchlights. Between the .pinion 12 of themotor shaft A,andthe toothedl wheel 18, a gear train 47 ,is mounted and arranged ina manner to allow .themotor `to.tminsinit power through it to the shaft 13 and/.atgthe same timeu reduce` the speed. of the shaft to a comparatively slow moyenienti. Y v rlhe electric energy transmission will now be described. s' VA battery, 48 is located in ,a convenient A Y position. v The lamp Acircuit wires tracedbetween the battery and lamp and through theswitch by the character placed in :.reference.. lt Iwill be noted that` thelamp wiring r,has transmission intermediate. connections Ythroi'igh -the tube 31v and vpin 33and thencethrough contact arms 49 ancl`5,0.which press. uponthe tube and. pin respectively in slidingengagement.v This allows thevshaft 13,Ycarrying the lamp, to rotate freely with. the lamp wiring therein and obviate twistingprinjuring it and at the :samev time .preserving a continuous circuit. .Part of the lamp circuit is also within, themotor circuit.

- switch box v51. is proyided, having, ay cover 52, Upon an insulatingfplateA 53, in the box, a part of which is shown in Fig. IV, `are secured switchterininalstrips 54-54 and 554-55. These are connected. at one end with`l opposing ends ofthe (lamp and motor circuit y,wire terminals,VA The motorr circuit is .designatedjbetweeiithe battery and motor .land to the switch terminals .bythe character y. The switch. bei; 'iissecfired in theyehicle in a position `ecliiyeiii'eiitl the Operator, andaeble ,cflif the lcircuit wires ibetv'v.een".it and l.they casing e, which ist seemed' wiumut @deputate vehicle body in .e suitable, petition; @The operatingswitch hasn)Y through the boxwall andcoyer .topbtain bearin, f{s. in which`V` it crotatab le bythe flfelp'ece- Allillltlllg" GHT '5915's rigidly sediments@ ni ein Ayers 59. `.is rigidly. .secured upon. fthe .lippen Surfaeeaf ai@ @eine esta.reappears 'it itlliieliah which th;5 in 57. .passess` .A bracket 60 of siicircula forni isu secured extend outwardly through the op-posing bracket opening 61 and bear .larga-inst the central part 60. Terminal Contact 'shoes 63 of segmental form are secured'uponrthe 'under' surface oi the vcollarv59 positioned soA that whenlthe collar is moved, the shoes may be caused to engage the terminalstrips 54-54 or 554-55 as desired When the pino? is yrotated to the right or left the opposing spring arm engages the bracket center 60 and the spring resistance must he overcome to operate the switch. When the'linger piece yis'released, thetjension of v,the spring returns they switch to its primary central position. A circuit breakerris `indicated vat 64, andy a` pin 65I of any suitable term is provided to yoperate the;r circuit breaker. y'lhe circuit breaker is intended to admit they electric energy into the whole 'system or to break the same.

kIt will Vnow be apparent that they lamp Y is installed in a suitable position upon the vehicle to direct the light rays forwardly, and the switch box conveniently tothe operator. The first adjustment is to manipulate `the pin42pand release the catchmechanism in connection with same. The lamp is then tilted to a desired horizontalplane, and the pinfreleased, whereupon thecatch retains ,thelamp in this position. The circuit breaker 64 is then closed and the lamp is immediatelyilighted, as it remains on a continuous circuit when thus closed, regardless 'of reversal of the current for the motor. The switch pin 57 is then operated kin one c direction to movethe collar 59 andccause its ehocsto close a v*circuit through theterminals 54h54 and in the oppositeV direction :to close a circuit through the terminals 5.5-1-55 and when so closed, the motorwillrotate in a direction related to thetlow of electric energy and will transmit power to thevwheel 18 which in turn engages the wires v22 and rotates the shaft 13 in a pre-determined direction.V l :Thiscausesi-the lamp 'to'.rotate ong-theaxis ofthe. shaftuntil the rays, of light lareecast torightor left in a desired kdirection 4from -a-pointI in the horizontal plane to which the focus' of the lamp has been, adjusted. ln thismanner thek rays of light maybedirected radially toright or left within yajfr;considerablesegment as vdesiredzg. The engagement of the wheel with the Wires?? sufcent to vCause Increment o/nthe shaft as stated, iand* the lamp `shaft may, be'cturned v .by handffrom without,7 ifoiitiesetl .Shattwthithwres `@Slipping `over the `wheel spokes without injury to -lll the power transmitting mechanism, and obviates damage by unskillfully handling the lamp. The lamp can thus be promptly and eifectually moved to the desired position and is retained there when the motor stops and locks the transmitting mechanism. The device allows the operator to quickly move the lamp by manipulating the switch close at hand and without neglecting other duties required of him in operating the motor vehicle. Y

I claiml. ln a vehicle lamp, in combination as follows; a vertical, rotatable shaft having an integral yoke on its upper end opening upwardly, rigid hollow horizontal pins in the upper ends of the yoke, a lamp pivoted on said pins in a manner to allow it to he tilted in a vertical plane and having side openings opposing the pins to allow the eX- tension of electric wires through the pins into the lamp, a rigid pawl positioned adjacent to the lamp with means on the lamp to engage the pawl and retain the lamp in a desired position when tilted, a spoked wheel rotatably arranged upon the lower part of the shaft, and spring mechanism secured to the shaft .below the Wheel, arranged and adapted to allow said mechanism to be engaged by the wheel spokes and thereby ron tate the shaft, also to allow the shaft to be independently rotated without rotating the wheel.

2. In a vehicle lamp, in combination as follows; a vertical, rotatable shaft having a yoke on its upper end opening upwardly, rigid horizontal pins in the upper end of the yoke, a lamp pivoted on the pins in a manner to allow it to be tilted in a vertical plane, a spoked wheel rotatably arranged on the lower part of the shaft, and spring mechanism secured to the shaft below the wheel, arranged and adapted to allow said mechanism to be engaged by the wheel spokes and thereby rotate the shaft, also to allow the shaft to be independently rotated without rotating the wheel.

3. In a vehicle lamp, in combination as follows; a vertical, rotatable shaft havin a yoke on its upper end opening upwardly, rigid horizontal pins in the upper end of the yoke, a lamp pivoted on the pins in a manner to allow it to be tilted in a vertical plane, a toothed and spoked wheel rotatably arranged on the lo-wer part of the shaft, spring mechanism secured to the shaft below the wheel, arranged and adapted to allow said mechanism to be engaged by the wheel spokes and thereby rotate the shaft, also to allow the shaft to be independently rotated without rotating the wheel, and spur gear mechanism positioned adjacent to the lower part of the shaft, arranged and adapted to engage the wheel and through it cause the shaft to rotate in either direction at a slow speed and thereby rotate the lamp in a horizontal plane to a desired position and retain it there.

4. ln a vehicle lamp, in combination as follows; a vertical, rotatable shaft havin a yoke on its upper end opening upwarly, rigid horizontal pins in the upper end of the yoke, a lamp pivoted on the pins in a manner to allow it to be tilted in a vertical plane, a toothed and spoked wheel rotatably arranged on the lower part of the shaft, spring mechanism secured to the shaft below the wheel, arranged and adapted to allow said mechanism to be engaged by the Y wheel spokes and thereby rotate the shaft, also to allow the shaft to be independently rotated without rotating the wheel, spur gear mechanism positioned adjacent to the lower part of the shaft, arranged and adapted to engage the wheel andthrough it causev the shaft to rotate in either direction at a slow speed and thereby rotate the lamp in a horizontal p-lane to a desired position and retain it there, and electrical mechanism arranged to rotate said shaft in either direction through the intervening spur mechanism.

HARRY E. SMITH. Witnesses:

HERBERT A. COOKE, PEARL THOMPSON. 

